Celebrating St Patricks Day in its home country is something that many people dream of. Far from an excuse to get drunk (although that is a popular pastime at this time of year!) The St Patricks Festival in Kilkenny is a celebration of all things Irish. It’s the perfect excuse to show our locals and visitors how proud we are of Irish heritage, roots, music, sport and culture. Last year saw the city host its biggest ever St Patrick’s Festival with six days packed full of events and 100,000 people passing through the city! This year promises to be another fantastic year for celebrations with five days of fun.
Planning your Visit to Kilkenny
March is traditionally the start of the busy season in Kilkenny with tourists and locals flocking to the city to enjoy the improving weather and St Patrick’s festivities. This year, we’re looking forward o another great event with five days of festival fun from Wednesday the 15th to Sunday the 19th of March 2023. It’s a really busy time in Kilkenny so plan your stay well in advance to secure transport and accommodation. If you’re flying in from overseas, the closest major airport to Kilkenny is Dublin Airport. If you can help it, try to avoid flying close to the festival as demand is huge at this time of year, driving airfares higher. Getting to Kilkenny from the airport is easy by car or bus. Booking accommodation in advance is strongly recommended as Kilkenny has a limited number of hotel rooms available.
St Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny
There is always a great buzz along the streets of our medieval city with thousands of visitors exploring the streets, doing some shopping and dining in local pubs and restaurants that often have themed menus to mark the celebration. Pubs have live music and live entertainers line the streets showing off their talents and entertaining visitors of all ages. There will be family-friendly events during the five days of the festival followed by adult-only events in pubs and venues each evening so something for everyone. There are many shows, events and performances yet to be announced so keep an eye on the official website and social media to keep up to date with the latest news.
St Patrick’s Day Parade
The best of the festivities happens on 17th March, which in 2023 falls on a Friday. Much of the population is off work and ready to celebrate with lots to see and do. Taking place through the streets of Kilkenny on March 17th, it is an event that brings together community, culture and creativity. Local community groups and teams create costumes and floats, parading them through the streets of Kilkenny which are lined with thousands of excited onlookers. There will be American Marching Bands, the Big Wheel, Festival Market, Street Entertainment, Workshops, Live Music, and lots more to look forward to over the weekend.
Tradfest Kilkenny
Tradfest Kilkenny runs alongside the St Patricks Festival and is a celebration of Irish music in all its forms. You can enjoy performances from the very best Irish musicians live in venues across Kilkenny. There is an extensive Music Trail in Kilkenny’s finest pubs, a great way to enjoy a superb array of free live music sessions and sing-alongs with everything from trad to folk & ballads. The Trail brings the medieval streets of Kilkenny to life as locals and visitors nip in and out to hear great music. Enjoy a pint of Smithwick’s while you enjoy the music to really feel at home and don’t be surprised to see some impromptu traditional Irish dancing.
Accommodation for St Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny
Good quality, affordable accommodation in Kilkenny City is as rare as hen’s teeth over the St Patrick’s celebrations. Lucky for you, Hoban Hotel, located on the skirt of the city, still has limited rooms available. Split the cost with family or friends by enjoying our twin, triple or family rooms. Our on-site restaurant, 1801, is the perfect place to fuel up before a big day of exploring and experiencing Kilkenny culture or an ideal place to retire for a great night’s sleep after. You’re guaranteed our best available rates and exclusive access to our special offers when you contact us directly or book using our website.
Staff and management at Hoban Hotel Kilkenny would like to wish all of our guests and safe and happy St Patrick’s Day and hope you enjoy the celebration.
